Phnom Penh (dpa) - Three Cambodian military generals have been arrested, apparently in connection with unauthorized use of an armed force, government and opposition officials said Wednesday.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters that two royalist Funcinpec Party generals, Uth Sakhorn and Men Saron, as well as opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) General Kheang Savorn, had been arrested Tuesday night.
SRP lawmaker Sonn Chhay confirmed the arrests, authorized by National Military Police Chief Sao Sokha, had been carried out and said the arrest warrant appeared to charge the men with involvement with an armed force.
"We will seek clarification. It doesn't say 'illegally' in the warrant, so it is a bit confusing. Savorn is a general. He acts in an armed force for the government," Chhay said.
He said he had been denied permission to see Savorn in custody and the party was now trying to organize a lawyer for him and ensure concerns about unspecified ongoing health problems voiced by Savorn's wife had been addressed.
Chhay said the charges relate to crimes allegedly committed in Battambang, 300 kilometers north-west of the capital, and the trio had already been transfered there to face court.
Savorn, formerly a Funcinpec general, had defected to the SRP and was a member of that party's steering committee at the time of his arrest.
On Wednesday Chhay refused to speculate on possible motives for the arrests. Kanharith told reporters categorically that the charges were in no way politically motivated.
In 2005, SRP lawmaker Cheam Chhany was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after being convicted on charges including illegally organizing an armed force in a Phnom Penh Military Court hearing condemned by rights groups as a show trial.
He was released in February 2006 on a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told reporters that two royalist Funcinpec Party generals, Uth Sakhorn and Men Saron, as well as opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) General Kheang Savorn, had been arrested Tuesday night.
SRP lawmaker Sonn Chhay confirmed the arrests, authorized by National Military Police Chief Sao Sokha, had been carried out and said the arrest warrant appeared to charge the men with involvement with an armed force.
"We will seek clarification. It doesn't say 'illegally' in the warrant, so it is a bit confusing. Savorn is a general. He acts in an armed force for the government," Chhay said.
He said he had been denied permission to see Savorn in custody and the party was now trying to organize a lawyer for him and ensure concerns about unspecified ongoing health problems voiced by Savorn's wife had been addressed.
Chhay said the charges relate to crimes allegedly committed in Battambang, 300 kilometers north-west of the capital, and the trio had already been transfered there to face court.
Savorn, formerly a Funcinpec general, had defected to the SRP and was a member of that party's steering committee at the time of his arrest.
On Wednesday Chhay refused to speculate on possible motives for the arrests. Kanharith told reporters categorically that the charges were in no way politically motivated.
In 2005, SRP lawmaker Cheam Chhany was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after being convicted on charges including illegally organizing an armed force in a Phnom Penh Military Court hearing condemned by rights groups as a show trial.
He was released in February 2006 on a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni.
13 comments:
Don't worry the government is just doing thier jobs to clean out corruption. The arm forces are to be used by privet company who are loyal to CPP only, to be farmers who treaspass on land sold to foriegn companies, and to beat children who begs.
These SRP and FUNCINPEC generals are corrupt because they didn't follow orders.
Who is this guy Soa Sokha?
Where is the Vietnamese guy Hok Lundy? He used to be Nguyen Van Son now Hok Lundy and isn't he the Police Chief? I can't follow up with Cambodia that has too many generals, too many chiefs, two prime ministers anymore.
TO KI-MEDIA
YOU SEE THESE COMMENTS FROM 11:19 PM MUST BE BANNED FOR EVER BECAUSE IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN INSULTS AND IDIOCIES OF UNCIVILIZED MAN.
WOULD YOU TRY TO IMPROVE YOUR IMAGE OR NOT KI-MEDIA? IT IS NOW TIME TO ACT IF YOU DARE!!!!
KMENG WAT SROK KHMER
I love the way our administration
stay vigilant against all type of
potential terrorists, gangs,
nacotic drug dealers, ... or
treasonists.
That is how it should be done. It
is better to be safe than sorry.
Kmeng wat peal 11:29!!! Are you Pol Pot co.? why can't others express idea?
To 11:29PM
AH KMENG WAT OTT SROK just shut the fuck up! Just comment on the damn issue! Your CPP clans are afraid of a major coupe!!!ahahah
I was being sarcastic...
I don't see this type of question should be banned suggested by Mr. kmeng wat srok khmer . It's a legitimate question and not a dirty language anything. I & most everyone want to ask the same question as this anon 11:19PM asked, because the police chief Hoc Langdy previous name was Nguyen Van Son. Is Mr. Hoc being replaced by this new man Soa Sokha? It is not a rumor but it was written in some paper about this Vietnamese Police Chief. Can some expert in Cambodia please share?
"Anonymous said...
Who is this guy Soa Sokha?
Where is the Vietnamese guy Hok Lundy? He used to be Nguyen Van Son now Hok Lundy and isn't he the Police Chief? I can't follow up with Cambodia that has too many generals, too many chiefs, two prime ministers anymore.
11:19 PM "
Hi all,
I think this vietnamese is still in the place. Who can remove him?
Ok, in the National Police Corp, under the ministry of interor, Hoc Lundy is the national police chief. But in the Military Police Corp, under the ministry of defence, Sao Sokha is the national chief.
So you are right, too many generals, too many priministers and too many institutions, so it's sometimes confusing. We don't know who do what really.
Yep, we don't need too many Prime
minister when PM Hun Sen will do
fine forever.
Yes but Hun Sen was one of the 2 PM. Yes Hun Sen will do fine because you enjoy seeing him signed the illegal treaty givng Khmer land to Yuan. And you won't be happy if treaty was signed giving Koh Trol back to Cambodia.
You are only happy when Yuan get the land and in control.
Yes, I would be happy to see
Somdach Hun Sen sign treaty to
give land to Vietnam, but so far
he has been nothin but a
dissapointment to me. Vietnam
have received crap from him.
As for Kot Tral that is Khmer
Krom Territory, not part of
Cambodia. Therefore, Prime Minister
cannot sign anything for that.
Can you immage sign treaty with
germany to give France to them.
LOL.
You have just confessed that you are Yuan. Thanks.
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